Flushing device



July'` 14, 1953 R. J, CHAPMAN 2,644,950

FLUSHING DEVICE IN VEN TOR.

A TTORNE YS July 14, 195.3 n. J. CHAPMAN FLUSHING vminimi: Y

5 Shana-'sheet 2 Filed Jan'. 2. 1951 321 Z6 7 7 da INVENTOR.

PMA/V 54 P/JrM/va J 62M 15:7* wwwa/M ATTORNEYS July 14, 1953 R. J. CHAPMN FLUSHING DEVICE IFIIII Filed Jan. 2, 1951 @A YMo/v J CHAP/WIN."

INVENToR.

Arm/wir;

July 14, 1953 RJ. CHAPMAN 2,644,950

FLUSHING DEVICE' Filed Jan. 2, 1951 i S- vrsheezs-snut 5 I'TEE ,Q4 YMa/v CHAPMAN INVENTOR.

BY i# Patented July 14, 1953 y 2,644,950( yFLUsmNGf DEvoE Raymondv J.v Chapman, Wawaka,r Ind., assignor of one-sixth to Roy J. Jorg, one-sixth to Grace C. Jorg, and one-sixth of Ligonier, Ind.

toRoy J. Jorg,.Jr., all

Application' January'z, 1951,', serialA No. 204mm f 2 Claims. l

This invention relates to improvements in iiushing devices of the `character adapted to supply a measured quantity of liquid upon each actuation thereof. More'particularly, the invention relates to a flushing devicefor use in connection with a water closet of a toilet. y r f The primaryV object of 'this invention is to provide a device which will operate satisfactorily for its intended purp-ose, which'is substantially free from trouble, which eliminates ther use of a vfloat member for valve controlling purposes, and which eliminates the use of a'discharge -valveisofthat only a supply valve'is required with the device.

A further object is to provide a device ofthis character 'having a' Water sup-plyvalvemand a water container'pivotallyrnounted upon a weigh beam connected ,to the y' water* supply valvekto control said valve in response tothe weight of the container and its contents. K 'n A further object of this invention is to provide a ydevice of kthis character wher'einfaweighbeam member pivotally supports a liquid tank and has associated therewith a tripping mechanism for tilting the tank to discharging position and a counterweighted mechanism for returning *the tank tdupright position afterits contents'have been discharged. I i

Affurtherobject is to' provide a device ofithis character having Aa tiltable'water'nieasuring and discharging tank provided'vvith a largefopening in its normallyv upper endand acomparatively small opening spaced from Asaid first opening to'be positioned ata slightly lower level' th'ansaid lirst opening when the "tank'is, indischargingposi; tion, whereby the tankwill rapidlydischarge`the major portion of its'contents andthereafter'will I discharge the remainder slowerrate. u n v 4 I 'A further object is to provide va device for this characterl wherein the `water supplyvalvefisfheld closed during the tripping of thetank and until the tank is returned to uprightfp'c'isitio'n';"r

A further object is to provide a1 `device' cfftiiis character wherein the open end of'thewa'tertank has an aperture'd barrierwall/ formed at the end 2 the filled liquidV tank ina manner to completely apply thejweight to the purpose of closing the water supply -valve and thus preventing leakage or dripping, assistingtin the return of the tank from its tilted 'discharging position to its upright position after being emptied, and assisting in shifting the tripping mechanism to fully locked position as thetank is returned from discharge to upright position.

yA further object is 'to provide a device of this character which increases the speed of a' iiushing operation, and particularly the speed at which the 'ilushing devl'ce can be refilled after each discharge.

n Other objects will be apparent from thev following specification.l f

jIn the drawings: K l Fig. 1 is a -side view ofthe device with the tank infupright position assumed immediately following discharge and during the filling operation.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the device inthe position illustrated in Fig. 1'. y

Fig. 3 is an end'view of the device in theY position illustrated in Fig. 1. f

Fig. 4 is a side view of the device with theparts in the position occupied when the tankis lled and the device'is ready forfoperation to flush the same. .f f

Fig. 5 is an end -view of the device when'inithe position illustrated in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a side view of the device illustrating in full lines its partially tiltedposition. Fig. 7 isa view illustrating the container in its fully. tilted or discharging position.

The invention preferably consists of a frame'or supportI-which is adapted tobe interposed in atank ror water closet I2', such as` that commonly used in a toilet. It will ibe understood that the support, while preferred, is not essentialfand that, instead of employing sucha support, the various parts associated therewith may be connected and nd support directly upon the container I2; TheV support pivotally mounts afweighbeam member lever I4 to which is pivoted a tank. I6 adapted to receive liquid fromgthe outlet VI 8 of a liquidsupply unit controlled by the valveg20. The valve 20 has connection througha toggle linkage22 .With the weighbeamA I4.y The device has a tripping device controlled by the `handle 24 and'includingfa toegle 2B pivoted-to the tank spaced from the pivotal connection of the tank-.withfthewweighbeam I4.

' The,tank I6. is preferably provided with a counterweight v28 and` is also iniiuenced'in yits These parts aforementionedfunction.and operate .substantially as follows: Considering the devicein its empty butnormaljposition, that is,

theposition-it has assumed immediately followf f toggle 22 for controlling the Yvalve 20 having opened that vvalve in response to the position of the weighbeam I4 and the tank I6. When the tank has been filled to a predetermined level, the weighbeam I4 counterweighted by the mechanism 30 will be swung upwardly in a clockwise direction incident to a lowering ofthe watertank. l

The movement of the weighbeam I4 shifts the valve actuating linkage 22 ln a direction to close the valve and shifts the counterweight mechanism 3B to a high level position. In .both positions, that is, the empty and the lled position of the device with the tank upright, the trip toggle 26 is extended an'd serves to lock or stabilize Vthe tank to prevent its tilting, When this mechanism is manually actuated to the position illustrated in Fig. 6, the tank I6 is tilted yto be emptied. When empty the counterweight mechanism associated with the counterweight 2li-of the tank serves to restore the tank to its upright position.

Referring to the mechanism more specifically, the frame I may be formed of rigid framer members, preferably metal, and constituting uprights 32, preferably four in number interconnected at their lower ends by bars or straps -34 which form a base for the device. Thebase will preferably be so contoured that it will be supported-.in a firm and stable position upon the-bottom-v ofthe tank I2 when positioned within-that tank. At a point intermediate the height-,of the tank,'the uprights 32 arepreferably connected by a pair of longitudinal side bars v36, and at a point intermediate the height thereof the uprights at one end are interconnected `by `an end frame member 38. The uprights 32, attheend of the frame at which the cross member 38 is positioned, preferably extend upwardly above the level of the longitudinal member 36, and as here shown are enlarged in size to provide plate-like portions 40. The form of the frame vas above descri-bed is illustrative and may be altered materially in appearance'by the use of metal stampings or 'by changes in design. Alternativelyyparts comparable to the individual frame. parts may be connected to the water tank, anda unitary frame, as such, may be dispensed with. I prefer to use the unitary frame, however, inasmuch'as-it facilitates the fabrication of the device asia unit which can be preassembled before being'insta-lled in a tank and avoids the necessity ofreachinginto the tank for the ypurpose of assembling and positioning the various parts.

The weighbeam Vmember orleveri I4 is preferv ably of U-shape, as best seen in Fig. V2,-"the same beingprovided with a pair of substantially parallel lever-arms or runs -42andan end part 44. The arms 42 are spacedapart a distance-'greater than the width of the tank I-6'-and less than the spacing of the frame members 36. The-'arms 42 of the weighbeam are pivoted to -the opposite frame parts-L36 at 46. As here shown, theV pivots 46 constitute rigid headed hinge vpins positioned in axial alignment andl extending 'horizontally andtransversely and having associated therewith spacer members 4B positioned between the frame parts 36 and the-weighbeam-arms 42'to`sp'ace the weighbeam from-the frame. l

'Ihe tank or containerlIS-may beof anyisize and vshape found -su-itable, and is hereshow'n "as substantially rectangular and -of narrower Vwidth thanLthe-'spacing of the arms-42 oft-heiweghbeam vbetween which it- 'is' positioned; The counter-weight 2 8 -is securedA substantially centrall'ylto the-bottom. of the-tank; I6 as illustrated.

vwhich is positioned lowermost when the tank is in discharging position as illustrated in Fig. '7, a plate or -wall 50 is provided extending completely across the top of the tank, that is, from side toside thereof, and extending from one end `wall inwardly for Ya small extent of the total lengthx-of-thetank, for example, an extent less than one-quarter of the length of the tank. The wall 50 'has 'a 'comparatively small opening 52 formed therein at the outer end of the tank for purposes to be described. The opening 52 preferably extends to the adjacent end wall 54 of the tank. The tank is.pivoted`to` the end portions of the arms 42 'of the'weighbeam'at 56'at a point 'centrally` of the length'of the tank but below the vertical center of the tank. Ashere'illustrated the tank pivot constitutes a shaft'or ro'd 58 extending crosswise through'thetank, and extending through the end portions ofthe arms 42 of the weighbeam suitable spacers 60 serve to'hold the parts in proper spacing. The -bar 56 is preferably welded or Votherwise xedly secured to the tank and fits rotatably within apertures within the weighbeamarms 42 and thus prevents occurrence of leaks when thetank is Vfilled vwith liquid at a level at or above'thebar 5B. The spacing between vthe plvotalconnection 46 between theweighbeam and the'frame'andthepivotal connection :56 between the' weighbeam Vand the tank' is small comparedltothe dimensions of the weighbeam and thedimensions of the tank, and the exact dimensions required in any instance .will vdepend-upon theproportions of the parts .and the size .of 'the container and 'the amount of liquid which-'is desired shall be' measured and dispensed ateachrlushing operation.

The handle 24 of the tripping 'device has a pin or shaftlSI xed'thereto which is adapted'to extend through the .wall ofthe Atank'l2 and is Journaled in one ofthe enlarged plate portions 40 of theframe. -Alink orlever-62 isxedly secured to Athe-shaft6l. -The arrangement is such that the-link-GZ will swing with the handle 24 with which it is in fixed-relation. Thezposition of the handle andthe-link when` at rest is determined by the position of apinorstud 64 carried by and projecting from tliei'rame plate portion 40'an`d underlying the lever part 62. "The tripping mechanism 26, of which the handle 24 and the lever 62 areparts, includes thelink 65`which is-pivotally connected-tothelever at 66 vand cooperates therewith to-form atoggle member. YThe free end of the toggle member v65 ispivoted to the tank I6 at 68, the parts here shown with the. pivot 68 positionedA aboveand toone side of the pivot mounting '56 of the tank. "The ,pivot point 68 is so locatedand positioned that,with respect to the shaft't. andthe stud Y64,'the`toggle will be extended.and.preferably slightly over center in a downward 'direction-when the tank is upright and the parts `are in .the DCsition shown in Figsjl and 2. The tripping mechanism 26 with its positioning stud 64 provides means toposition and lock thetank IIV initsupright .position normally.

VThe water-supply system of the device includes the conduitf'lll which extendsinto the tank I2 at any suitable point,-hereshown as the bottom of the-tank; the samebeing provided with a suitable: seal v-fat 12 pto 1 prevent :leakage at the, point of entry. The '.valve .20 y is mounted upon the upper-.endlof the-conduit "10 endl' mayihave connection "'with thell'ra'mef platei40 A=toristability, l!

-agegaeso desired. The outlet .conduit lI8 connectedwith the valve is preferably of the gooseneck form herein illustrated, and the discharge end of the outlet I8 is so positioned that the discharge therefrom will enter the tank I6.when in its, upright position. The valve may be of any type found suitable and, as here illustrated, is` .of the type having a shiftable valve member 'I4actuated by a lever I6 pivoted at I8 to the `valve body.r Alink 8|) is pivoted at 82 to the lever 16, and atA 84 to a second lever 86 pivoted intermediate its lends at 88 to the valve body. The pivots 84 and 88 are preferably close spaced and the lever 86 is 4comparatively long so that it affords substantial leveragefor `operation of the .valve mechanism. The lever 86 forms a part of the toggle 22,.and the link 90 pivoted to the lever 86 at 92 forms the other part of the toggle 22. The link SI1-is pivotally connected at 94 to the weighbeam I4 intermediate the length of one of the arms 42 thereof.

A rigid bar `or arm 96 is secured to one of the arms 42 of the weighbeam I4 to project longitudinally from the end 44 of the weighbeam toupper end is pivotally 'connected at |04 to an 5 elongated swinging arm |06. The swinging arm |96 is pivoted at |08 to the frame member `V38 at its lower end. The pivot point |04 is positioned intermediate the length of the arm I 06 and below a weight member I II! carried by the upper end of the swinging arm |06. The parts 96 to, IIII, inelusive, constitute the counterweighting mechanism 38 hereinbefore mentioned. In the normal position of the parts, that is, when the tank I6 is positioned upright, the parts will beso positioned that the arm |116 will be inclined as shown in Fig. 3, and in the discharging position of the device the arm will be positioned substantially upright as illustrated in Fig. 5.

A strap I I 2 forming a hook or aloop is pivotally suspended from the tripping mechanism 26 preferably at the pivot axisv 66. This lhook extends downwardly to pass around one of .the arms 42 of the weighbeam to have a free engagement therewith in certain operating positions, for instance' inthe position illustrated in Figs. l and`6.

iframe. part I4 of the weighbeam, to which the valve operating toggle22 is connected, shifts vthat toggle @by upwardly swinging the link`9I) `and the lever 86 f .mined level, that is, to vsuch a-A level that `the Aweight of the tank and the liquid acting vthrough and actuating the connected link 80. and lever :18

.associated with the valve actuating member 'I4 to vclose the valve. -The upward movement of the The purposes of the strapI I 2wil1vbe morefully f expressed hereinafter. y

In the operation of the vde`viceassuming that the device has just .been hushed and that the tank has just returned to upright position so that the parts are in the position1 illustrated in Fig. l, the weighbeam I4 will be tilted `or inclined as a result of the position ofv the counter. weighting mechanism EIS-|10 inthe position shownin Fig. 3. In this position of the partsy the piv`ot56 for the tank IB will be positioned ata level slightly above the level of the pivot 46x connecting the weighbeam to the frame member 36. rThe strap I I2 in association with other parts of the device free end of the'weighbeam I4 vcarries `with it the extension member 9.6 which swings upwardly the link IDU and causes the weightedarm |06 to asfsume a substantially-upright position, as illustratedin Fig. 5. During the movement ofjthese parts, the tripping toggle 26 swings freelytoac.-

`commodate` the movement and tornaintain thev tank I6 in its upright position with ythe tripping toggle 26 still extended land preferably slightly over center in a kdownward direction, asillustrated in Fig. .4. For the best results, the parts are so proportioned that the movement fromthe-Figll .to the Fig. 4 position will not occuruntil thecon.- tainer lor tankv I6 has been lled to suchialevel that it is inherently unstable. :Stated diierently,

. the level to which 'thetank is lledlshould be ya level such that the centerlof massof the tankand its contents will be located above the level of the 10ivotcenter56.` y When itis desired to operate the device for flushing purposes, the handle 24 isgrasped ,and manipulated to throw the toggle upwardly over center of the device.` Thisis accomplished by a counter-clockwise movement ofthe handle when considered as viewedin Fig. 4.- This movement of thetoggle exerts a pulling force on the toggle member 85 and 'swings' the tank ina kcountervclockwise direction, thereby tilting thetank I6 .toward discharging position.r The inherent in the `tank are discharged. so that the leverageacting upon the weighbeam changes'theweighbeam is. .nevertheless prevented fromgreturningfto Vits Fig.` l positionas long asfanysubstantial amount of water remains in the container. ,f

:The vdischarge of lwater from .the f container or tank I6 vinto-the water closetl I2 is exhausted through the .usual outlet conduit I 20 connected with jan opening in vthe bottomr ofthey tank` I2 and .extending to the outlet or other service unit..-.The

outlet conduitIZIl usually has-associated therewitha liquid trap |22. The-'water discharged into 'the tank I2 passes through th'efconduit I 28 with a rapid rush which establishes Ea Siphon action. This Siphon action tends to drainy the trap |22.. Consequently, itis not desirable' that. all of the -,vyateiyin thsvtanl; lebe dischargedatoneume but that there shan be an initial discharge .of the major portion of the wateror liquid followed by a restrictedy discharge .of al quantity., offlquid 's'uiiicient to close the trap 'I 22. This operation is l permitted in the instant device, as illustrated in Fig, 7, by the end closure Wall 50 which prevents .mear-aun "thefullidischarge of all of the container. contents :as .soon -as '.the tank is tilted. A substantial amount. of .waten is retained within the tank below the level vof-,the then uppermost edge ofthe wall, Vand.thisquantityof--watercan be discharged only fat la comparatively restricted rate, .depending iuponithe size of the aperture 52 vinthe wall 5l). .The parts `are so' proportioned that a quantity of lwaterfs'uillcientto ll :the'trap |22 will bedischarged through :the :opening l52 .at :the conclu- -sion tof the flushing V.operation :and ybefore 'the `tlmethat'the weight'of the container and its contents is overbalanced bythe Acounter-weight .28. .Inz otherworda'when the tank hasbeenLsubstanitially emptiedsozthat theV weightpf the lwater is lnsuiclent'to'overcomethe mass of the counterweight 28, ithat -Jcounter-weight 28 will become -eflective to `svvlngthecontainer I6 back to :an

upright position. The`v swinging movement of the counter-weight :extends the tripping toggle '26 towardtheposition illustrated in Fig. 1, that is,

'tofadownwar'd over-center locked position. 'The downwardmovement of the tripping toggle 26 lowers the'strap H2 and-permits the weighbeam I I and. its counter-weight mechanism illustrated in Figs. .3-an'd 5"to'resume the positions illustrated in Figs, 1 and .-3. This movement acts upon Uthevalve operating toggle 22 and serves to open .thelvalvell Thusltwill be evident vthat the vvalve'r2.isiheld'closed' until the tank I6 has'assumed its;` position: to receive liquid' from the coniduit-I, andnthat strap'- l l2 denes a lost motion connector associated with trip mechanism26 and `weighbeanl Il to `retain'the weighbeam `and the valve actuator 22 in valve lclosingpositionwhile thetank lli is discharging.

'It willbe `evident from the foregoing descrip- `tionithat'the device dispenses with the oat usuallyassociated with the Water supply valveand thatit kalso dispenses with the usual valve at the outlet opening 'o'f the' tank. Likewise, the valve -whichis'employed is free and clear of the water atall times, and hence will not be subject to the corrosion common in conventional mechanisms where the valve is usually immersed. The operatlon'ofthe valve is positiveand responds to the weight ofthe `water being measured through a straight'balancing action. vIn other words, the operation of the device depends upon a proper correlation of the mass and leverage of the parts `and hence sufilcientforce is exerted at all times to insure positive operation and to avoid sticking of the parts.

lThe terminal restricted discharge of liquid during'ilushing is provided by the design of the devicerather'than through any particular operation of a mechanical device, such as a valve. By this means it is sure in its operation, and the danger Vof leakage or dripping due to progressive decreasing rate of speed, as is common in ordinary'ilushing valves, is avoided. The interconnectlonfof the parts, as through the trap |22, insures that the'cycle will operate in the sequence lrequiredlor'proper operation andprevents vundesired interference'with the operating cycle and sequence. Note also that the water supply valve is 'closed at all times except during the filling operation, and particularly, that the valve is closed duringv the dumping or flushing operation and until such time as the container hasbeen emptied and returned to its upright position. The balance of the parts and the relation of the various links and leverstherewith provides a .zpositivetmechanical lookA through the over-center positioning :of the tripping toggle .26 bearing againstitheistopzpinel. "I'hus, only when the operating'lever 24 visactuated -will the device be .operatedior flushing action. The stable .relation ofithe parts is also facilitated by the counterfweightedleverlG and its `connection with the .weigh-beam. drIhis counterweighted lever has the following functions: It holds'the empty tank .upright land-'the valve open untilthe tank has sbeenfiled. Ittransfers .theweight of the filled tank-in armanner'to be applied directly to the -functionof'closing the valve as the weighbeam -pivots-inresponse to theweight of the water in 'the tank. It acts in cooperation with the counterweight '.28- to'return' the tank'to its upright or filling position. "One ofthe advantages of the device operating in this manner is that the valve`20, when opened, canpermit' a greater Vflow of'water forrelling purposes than is-possible'with the ordinaryconstruction. In other Words, the usual toilet tank filling valve is progressively closed'and va substantial amount of time is required for the 'refilling operation because of the progressive closing of fthe valve. `Inthe present-device the valve can remain fully open until the tank has been filled and,thereupon, can be immediately and completely closed.

'It Iwillbe understood that the construction 'herein shown and described is illustrative and is not intended to be limiting, and that any con- -struction 'which falls `within the scope of the appended claims is contemplated and intended-to be' within' the'scope andspirit of the invention.

"Iclaim:

`1."A 'flushing Adevice comprising a support, a tank, a' lever pivoted to said support and pivotally mounting said tank centrally thereof, liquid supply Vmeans for lling said tank including a valve, a valve actuating link pivotally connected to said lever, the pivot connection of said lever and support beinginterposed between the pivot connections of said lever with said tank and said link-respectively, 'whereby said link closes said valve when said tank hasbeen 'filled to a predetermined. level, a toggle unit having a pair of pivotally connected parts, one toggle part being pivoted to said support, the other toggle part being pivoted' to said tankspaced from the pivot connection between said tank .and lever, a stop for locking said toggle unit inextended position, and a counterweighted linkage pivoted to said supportand to said'lever for shifting said. lever and its valve-actuating link to valve-opening position when saidtankis empty.

2. Aflushing .device .as dened in .claim 1, wherein said tank has a large opening to initially discharge liquid at a high rate when in discharge -position and a comparatively small opening located Jata'lower levelthansaid large opening in discharge position for continuing liquid discharge'after vdischarge through said largeopeningends.

RAYMOND J. CHAPMAN.

References Cited in the ille of this patent 'UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 607,652 Burgin July 19, 1898 .1,182,957 Wright May 16, 1916 '1,487,183 `Rybeck Mar. 18, 1924 

